Delano manager Nancy Drumsta was scheduled to write this week's column but her mother passed away on Tuesday.  Our sympathy to her and her family.
 
During my travels, I'm constantly asked how MMBA members are doing. 
 
The quick answer is, overall, members are doing OK.  While some customers are down-selling to cheaper products, most are focused on "value" propositions - "What am I getting for my money?" (Combination of  price, quality, information and service).
 
In addition, here are some items we discussed at the recent MMBA Regional Meetings:
 
* On-Sale Down / Off-Sale Up
 
* City Officials Putting Increased Pressure on Municipal Liquor Store to Generate Additional Income
 
* Some Managers Responding Well - Many Managers are Caught Off Guard / Unprepared for the City Demands
 
* MMBA is Here to Assist in Either Situation!!
 
Ways Municipal Liquor Operations are Successfully Responding to the Challenge
 
*  Changing Fundamental Operating Methods - Often Easier Said Than Done, But Consider the Alternative
 
* Modifying Operating Hours / Scheduling
 
* Modifying Price Points / Mark-ups
 
* Changing Dram Shop Carriers - Wells Fargo Will Save Combination Facilities 40% - 60%!!!
 
* Changing Credit Card Processing - Many Are Finding Success with US Bank Government Services!!
 
* Creating Regular Liquor Manager Reports to City Hall
 
If you would like further information on any of these items, please contact me or any of the MMBA directors listed on the right.
 
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA Executive Director
 

 

The recent MMBA Food Drive generated over 20.5 tons of food for local member food shelves!!!

 

This is up from 11.5 tons generated in 2008!!

 

Congratulations to everyone who participated!!!  Your contributions, large and small, are helping an important need in all of our communities.

 

 

Miltona (Under $1 million in annual sales) & Two Harbors (Over $1 million in annual sales)!!!

 

The food shelves in these communities will be receiving a $1,000 donation courtesy of MillerCoors and MMBA.

 

 

  

Aitkin

 

Barnsville

 

Big Lake

 

Elmore

 

Isanti

 

Lakeville

 

Litchfield

 

Monticello

 

North Branch

 

St. Francis

Holidays are always good for celebrations and promotions. Make a calendar of the holidays you want to celebrate and develop promotions for each one.

 

Don't forget international holidays like Oktoberfest, Cinco de Mayo or the Chinese New Year.

 

Offer themed drinks, food and drink specials, a grand prize drawing and a consume contest.

 

Don't limit yourself by only sticking to typical holidays.  Embrace off the wall celebrations like International Snow Sculpting Week, Jell-O Week, Pig Day, Beer Day, Potato Chip Day and more!!

 

Your facility will offer something unique while your competitors do the same old thing.

 

 

Do you schedule according to the staff you have or according to the needs of your business?

It's a fair question. Most Store Managers would answer that they schedule according to the needs of the business within the hours or wage cost % they are allowed. They might also say that they try to accommodate their employees whenever possible.

I propose that many, many Store Managers schedule according to the availability of their employees. That is where scheduling productively goes by the wayside. Unless the majority of your employees have completely open availability, it is next to impossible to schedule productively.

Scheduling productively means:

· You use the appropriate number of hours to handle the anticipated traffic and sales volume
· You schedule your top performers during peak traffic periods
· You schedule your top performers during off peak periods (to get the most out of slow periods)
· You schedule tasks to be done by your least productive employees during off peak periods
· You ensure time is allotted for regular refilling and maintenance of the sales floor
· You schedule time for recruiting, planning and administrative tasks

The schedule is the backbone of a retail store. Its importance must be understood.

When scheduling, the question is not who can work when or who can open and who can close but, rather, what results can we reasonably expect from this schedule.  

 

 

The City of Edina Communications Department recently produced a television commercial for Edina Liquor.

 

The piece creatively 

promotes the numerous ways the city uses its municipal liquor revenue.

 

Click Here to See the Commercial 
 

 

An MMBA member recently asked about filling small bottles of alcohol with product from a larger bottle.